Naughty vicar guilty

Well, at least on the charges pertaining to drinking in pubs. No real surprise there, given the amount of evidence.

He got off the swearing and pissing in public charges.

"‘Good Fellow’
SAYS THE
VILLAGE
By "HERALD" REPORTER
THEY sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” in the bar of the Barley Mow at Dogmersfield, Hampshire, last night.

But the jolly good fellow was not with them.

The Rev. Hugo Dominique de la Mothe, rector of Dogmersfield, with the words "guilty . . . drunk . . . resorting to taverns . . . tippling . . .” in his ears, had left a dingy office in Westminster a few hours before, and, puffing slowly at his pipe and leaning on the arm of his friend set out for Paddington and a month's holiday in Devon.

There he will consider whether to appeal against the findings of the Chancellor of the Diocese of Winchester that he was guilty of three of the charges preferred against him at the Consistory Court at Basingstoke last month.

Mr. G. H. G. Scott, the Chancellor, who had presided over the Consistory Court, told Mr. de la Mothe in the Board Room of Queen Anne's Bounty yesterday:

“You have been found guilty of frequently being drunk: resorting to taverns and tippling: being drunk at Dogmersfield on June 16, 1943.

"I find you not guilty on the charges of swearing and of making a nuisance of yourself in the presence of women.

"You will pay the whole of the costs with the exception of the shorthand writer’s charges.”
Daily Herald - Thursday 07 December 1944, page 4.

Now I'm wondering who the rector's friend was he was going off on holiday with.

He remained popular, in the Barley Mow, at least.

“A Good Man"
The Barley Mow received the news with dismay.

“We are all very sorry to hear it.” the proprietor, Mr. William Farrant, said. “The Rector was very popular here, and we thought him a good man.”

As I walked with Mr. de la Mothe from the Queen Anne's Bounty he told me;

"My total income is only £283 a year and a house I cannot afford to keep up, so I live in an outhouse. The costs of this case will probably be £500.

“The whole thing is the result of village gossip.

“For six months I have been dogged by private detectives, and I know who set them on to me, but I was doing no wrong.

“I have 28 days in which to decide whether I shall appeal to the Privy Council, and in the meantime I am going to Devonshire for a holiday.

"If I feel like a drink while I am there I shall certainly go into a pub."
Daily Herald - Thursday 07 December 1944, page 4.

How the hell could the rector afford to go on holiday if his costs were going to be almost double his annual salary? Of course, he'd be visiting pubs while away. Where no busybody neighbours could shop him to the bishop.

But most intriguing is the mention of private detectives. Is that true? And, if so, who employed them?

"During the hearing of the case in the Consistory Court the vicar admitted that he went to the Queen's Head and the Barley Mow sometimes.

He said he went there in connection with his civil defence duties or to talk over parochial matters with the churchwardens.

Yesterday, the Chancellor said: "I cannot help thinking that a more suitable place might have been chosen for the purpose.”

The Bishop of Winchester, Dr. Mervyn Haigh, will announce his decision from the pulpit of Winchester Cathedial."
Daily Herald - Thursday 07 December 1944, page 4. 

Guilty, but no sentence yet. Weird that the sentence would be announced from a pulpit.

More about the naughty vicar

A few more details about the rector appeared in other newspaper reports.

I'd wondered whether he had been a Chaplain during WW I. But it turns out that he had only been a clergyman for a couple of years.

"Mr Ryder Richardson prosecuting for the Bishop of Winchester, said the rector went to a public school and to Cambridge. He was in the Nigerian administration service and worked for the British Legion. He became a deacon in 1939 and a priest in 1940. 

. . .

He was, it would be stated, sometimes seen to fall off his bicycle on which he at times fetched a basket of beer bottles. 

. . . 

"He was sober when he read his book on Saturday afternoon for his service and on Sunday when he had his service and went to the infirmary," said Van Eyk."
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Friday 24 November 1944, page 4.

So he was a posh bastard, too. I wonder why he joined the clergy when in his late forties? At least he was sober during church services.

This next article reveals what was in the injection:
 

"Dr Thomas Charles Evans of Fleet, also attending on subpoena, said that one night in September 1942, at the request of Mrs De La Mothe, he gave the rector morphia, a recognised sedative for alcoholic irritation. He advised the rector to take treatment. 

Mark Edward Clowes, printer and publisher, said that on one occasion outside the Queen's Head the rector, who had apparently been drinking, told him that every Armistice Day he went to Badminton and preached a sermon before Queen Mary. He also said that he had been appointed "vicar of Grantley, in Cambridgeshire," and that it was quite in order to hold two livings. On another occasion in the Queen's Head the rector first refused to sign the A.R.P. book, wanted to fight, and called) him (Clowes) "a filthy, lechcrous brute, and half-witted." 

USED A WORD—
James Arthur Cook, son-in-law of the tenant of the Queen's Head, said he had seen the rector drink in the inn. He used word sometimes "which indicated children born of persons who were not married." He once used it when he said he would murder Clowes. He was not suggesting the rector had ever been drunk. 

Dr Arthur Harold Sheppard said had seen the rector go to public-houses in his own and other parishes. "I pointed out to him what people were saying about his habits. I said, 'Why don't you chuck the thing up? Fight and resist it.' He made no reply, put on his hat and walked out of the house." 

Mr Benson — Were all these reports from various members of his flock, or did they emanate from the big house, to put it bluntly? 

Dr Sheppard — They emanated from the parish. 

Mr Benson — They did not come from the patron house? 

Dr Sheppard — No."
Dundee Courier - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 3.

 Is morphine "a recognised sedative for alcoholic irritation"? Interesting that it's a different swearword in this report - bastard.

It seems that he rector didn't limit his boozing to the Barley Mow and Queen's Head, as he also drank in other parishes.

There's some rather odd boasting by the rector. I doubt very much that he preached before Queen Mary, of that he had another parish.

Next time we'll learn the court's decision.

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1919 Fullers Porter

If you can remember that far back, in 1914 Fullers Porter was, at 1045.5º, quite weak for a London example. Well. The war didn’t do it any favours.

In 1918, the most difficult year for British brewing, its gravity hit a low of 1027.5º. The end of the war helped it recover a little. In the summer of 1919, it crawled back over 1030º. Though, in this example, that’s let down by a poor degree of attenuation. Which wasn’t always the case. Some others finished at 1010-1012º.

The gravity might have varied, but the grist has remained quite constant, at least in terms of its main elements. These were pale, brown and black malt. Accompanied by flaked maize, most of the time. Then various sugars, which varied a bit.

In this case, the sugars are Peruvian and a couple of types of caramel. Which I’ve taken to be brown sugar and, well, caramel. Though, obviously, the shade of it is just my best guess.

The hops were Poperinge (1914), Sussex (1914) and unspecified English (1918).

1919 Fullers Porter
pale malt	3.50 lb	47.75%
brown malt	0.75 lb	10.23%
black malt	0.50 lb	6.82%
flaked maize	0.75 lb	10.23%
brown sugar	1.50 lb	20.46%
caramel 500 SRM	0.33 lb	4.50%
Strisselspalt 90 mins	0.50 oz
Fuggles 60 mins	0.50 oz
Goldings 30 mins	1.00 oz
OG	1035
FG	1014
ABV	2.78
Apparent attenuation	60.00%
IBU	25
SRM	27
Mash at	152º F
Sparge at	170º F
Boil time	90 minutes
pitching temp	62º F
Yeast	Wyeast 1968 London ESB

 

Cheap mug

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It brings back so many happy memories of my wedding. When we bought a bucket of this stuff from the pub opposite Dolores's mum's house when we polished off the second keg.

* Being honest, it's mostly Yorkshire Tea.

A very naughty vicar

The reports on the case we've seen so far were all in regional newspapers and all used some agency copy as their source.

This one is very different. It's from the Daily Herald, a left-wing national newspaper. Which in the 1960s was transformed by Rupert Murdoch into that newspaper of record, The Sun. There's also some very different material included.

First, more details of Mrs. Robinson:

"Tippling And Swearing By Rector Alleged
'COINCIDED WITH MOON PHASE'
A RECTOR whose alleged drinking bouts were said to coincide with certain phases of the moon appeared before a Consistory Court of the Winchester Diocese at Basingstoke yesterday. 

Mr. Ryder Richardson (prosecuting for the Bishop of Winchester) said it was a pathetic story. 

According to his servant, Mrs. Maggie Robinson, the rector was drinking all the time she was at the rectory. She noticed at times that his drinking bouts coincided with certain phases of the moon. He was then very insulting and peculiar thing — always accused her of stealing. 

The rector would apologise in the morning for his bad behaviour. Sometimes he would simulate attack on her. He would draw his hand back as though to strike her, but would go no farther.

He once offered to fight Mrs. Robinson's husband. Giving evidence, Mrs. Robinson said the rector "was terrible with drink." Sometimes he would tumble off his cycle coming up the drive, would call the dog rascal and try to kick him. 

It was at the moon's first quarter that the rector had heavy drinking bouts."
Daily Herald - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 3.

This makes the rector sound like a rather nasty drunk. But that his benders coincided with the phases of the moon is just weird.

Next there's a little more about Mr. van Eyk.

"Last May a Dutchman, Captain van Eyk and his friend, Mrs. Marshall, were staying at the rectory. The rector warned Mrs. Marshall of "the thieving qualities" of Maggie Robinson.

Captain van Eyk ordered the rector out of his bedroom because he made a scene about the blackout. The rector said: "Told to go out of my ____ house! We'll see in the morning whose ____ house it is." 

Bishop's Talk
Next day the rector told Mrs. Marshall he resented her sitting at his table. He said people in the village were talking about her. 

That created a scene with Captain van Eyk. The rector told her she was "a very clever woman to have got Van." 

Johannes Bernardus van Eyk, a chief engineer in the Dutch Merchant Navy, said, looking at the rector: "That man is only sober at breakfast, part drunk during part of the day, and sometimes really drunk, and sometimes very drunk in the evening.

Mrs. Sarah Jane Marshall, a widow, of Queen Ann's-terrace, Plymouth, attending on subpoena, described the rector's condition on one occasion as "definitely sozzled." 

Mr. Stephen Benson (defending) You are going to marry Mr. van Eyk? — I was at that time."
Daily Herald - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 3.

So he was a Dutch merchant seaman and Mrs. Marshall was a widow to whom he was engaged. I'm guessing that they met in Plymouth, it being a port and him being a sailor. I think we all know what the gossip about her in the village was. The rector clearly didn't like Mrs. Marshall.

The rector clearly started his drinking early and finished it late.

It seems that the rector had been warned about hanging around in pubs too much, but carried on boozing, anyway. 

"The Bishop of Winchester (Dr M. G Haigh) said he interviewed the rector because of complaints about his conduct.

"He left me." said Dr. Halgh," with the impression, whether willingly or not that he accepted my view and would keep away from public-houses.""
Daily Herald - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 3.

This article is answering so many questions. Like what was in the rector's injection:

"Dr. T. C. Evans, of Fleet, also attending on subpoena, said that one night in September, 1942. the request of Mrs de la Mothe, he attended the rector, who was intoxicated, and gave him morphia. 

Mr Mark Edward Clowes, a printer and publisher, said that once when he went to the Queen's Head in connection with his A R P duties, the rector (a warden) refused to sign the A R P book until he (Mr. Clowes) left. 

"He referred to me." said Mr. Clowes, "coming there in my admiral's uniform." 

The rector wanted to fight and eventually signed the book in the wrong column. He said Mr. Clowes was "a filthy lecherous brute and half-witted." 

The rector twice accused him of trying to shoot him."
Daily Herald - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 3.

The rector was injected with morphine to clam him down. Wouldn't that be dangerous if he was totally smashed?

If Mr. Clowes was a printer and publisher, why the hell did he own a gun? It being pretty rural, I'd assumed he was a farmer and hence had a gun. That the rector described him as "lecherous" makes me even more suspicious of Clowes' relationship with the rectors wife.

Finally more about the hedge incident:

"In The Hedge
Mr. J. A. Cook, son-in-law the tenant of the Queen's Head, said he had seen the rector wobble on his bicycle and fall off. 

Thomas Holdsway said: "One Saturday night I was at the Queen's Head and saw the rector sitting in the hedge. 

"I was in the Queen's Head about an hour and a half, and when I came out he was still in the shrubbery with his bicycle. I suppose he had had a little drop."
Daily Herald - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 3. 

Sounds like the rector was well and truly plastered.

Next time more details of the recto's life and other fun stuff.

Naughty vicar?

Looking in various newspapers, I've found several similar reports to the one I published yesterday. With some sections identical and others unique. It looks like they are all based on a longer agency article, which has been edited down in different ways.

These paragraphs give us a pretty good clue as to the swear word the rector used:

 "Mr. Benson: Do you sometimes use strong language? 

The Rector; Not normally. I have called a man ____ fool. I expect I shall do it again. I have no priggish qualms about that. 

The rector said the use of one word which he admitted using, but not frequently, “was a habit with real men.” 

Mr. Richardson; Do you know is is a contraction of the sacred oath “By our Lady”? The Rector" I am priest, and I have never heard that explanation before."
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 8.

All this fuss was about occasionally saying "bloody"? Disappointingly innocuous.

There are some new characters and also an intriguing revelation about the rector's past:

"The rector said: “I have had my drink. I am like an ordinary normal man when have had it. I hope." He said he did not like Mrs. Marshall. She came between Mr Van Eyk, "who was very nice man.” and himself. 

The rector said he knew what drunkenness was “because he had been a judge of the High Court of Nigeria." 

Evidence that they had never seen the Rector under the influence of drink was given by Major William Elgy Freeman, of Fleet, Hants, formerly of the Indian Army, who said he had rooms at the Rectory from 1943 to May 1944, and Mr. William B. Farrant licensee of the Bailey Mow. "
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 8.

Who the fuck were Mrs. Marshall. and Mr Van Eyk and why were they living with the rector? This is all getting way too complicated.

And the rector had been a judge in Nigeria? WTF?  

Yet another lodger in the form of Major Freeman. Was the rector running a boarding house?

The rector doesn't sound such a bad chap, does he? Wait until you see how another reporter write about the case.

A tippling rector

Another WW II pub tale. This time about a vicar who sounds like he's stepped out of the pages of Viz. A classic naughty vicar.

The case must have caused quite a stir as this report is in a Coventry newspaper, mikes away from Hampshire where the rector resided.

“Tippling” Accusations:
Rector’s Defence
THE defence of the Rev. Hugo Dominique de la Mothe (54), Rector of Dogmersfleld, Hampshire, opened to-day at the resumed Winchester Diocesan Consistory Court, at Basingstoke. 

The accusations brought under the Clergy Discipline Act of 1892, Section 2, were that between June, 1942, and June, 1944, the rector had been frequently drunk, had “resorted to taverns and tippling.” had been guilty of immorality in that on or about May, 1944. at Dogmersfleld, he was in such a drunken condition that he committed a nuisance in the presence of women, and that he made derogatory references to the husband of Mrs. Maggie Robinson, his servant. 

Yesterday it was alleged that the rector frequented public-houses and was drunk for the greater part of most days in the week. Mr. Ryder Richardson appears for the Bishop of Winchester and Mr. Stephen Benson defends the rector. 

RECTOR’S EVIDENCE
The rector was called to give evidence. 

Mr. Benson: Were you generally drunk between June, 1942, and June 1944? —The rector: There is no truth in that. 

 

With regard to resorting to taverns and tippling?—l go to taverns in the first instance to meet my men folk; I can’t meet them in their homes. I do visit the “Barley Mow" both my churchwardens and I meet there in the evening and we talk business. I play billiards or darts with the men. I am member the dart team if I am required. He went to the Queen’s Head when he was chief warden because it. was the A.R.P. headquarters.

PUBLIC HOUSE VISITS
The Rector said that he told the Bishop of Winchester that did not see any harm in visiting public houses, "and unless he gave me a definite order I did not intend to desist.” 

Mr. Benson; Have you fallen off your bicycle? 

The Rector: I have done in the past, and I am not the only one either. It is a very difficult hill. I have come off once or twice, but it is not a regular habit.

"EXCITED AFTER FAMILY ALTERCATION"
Mr. la Mothe said he was excited after family altercation and distressed, and not suffering from drink, when Dr. Evans gave him an injection in the Queen’s Head when he had a dispute with Mr. Clowes. Mr. Clowes called him "a drunken dipsomaniac.” and he told Clowes, "The best thing for you would be a jolly good hiding.” 

The Rector denied he spent one and half hours in some laurels after falling off his bicycle. 

Mr. Richardson: Is it true that Clowes tried shoot you? — At any rate, I have been shot at by his gun. 

Did he try to shoot you? — Not deliberately. The Rector said the use of one word which he admitted using, but not frequently, "was a habit with real men.”

CHURCH BUSINESS IN PUBLIC-HOUSE
Mr. Henry Cole, Rector’s warden since last Easter, said that he had seen the Rector at the Barley Mow once or twice weekly by chance, or to discuss business, and they had drinks together. He had never seen the Rector drunk. 

Mr. Richardson: Do you find a public-house a good place to discuss church business? — I can’t say I do. 

Mr. Walter Charles Trimmer, people’s warden for 13 or 14 years, said that had seen the Rector the Barley Mow. but not often; they met by chance there. (Proceeding)
Coventry Evening Telegraph - Saturday 25 November 1944, page 8. 

There are some intriguing hints about the rector's behaviour. What did Dr. Evans inject him with in the Queen’s Head? What was his dispute with Mr. Clowes?

I'm guessing that the word "real men used" was fuck.

Rev. de la Mothe sounds quite a fun bloke. I wonder what happened to him?

You've probably noticed that the Barley Mow is still around. So is the  Queen’s Head, too.

. . .

Just been for a walk. Thinking about this case as I plodded along, A couple of things struck me. But that didn't deter me from continuing on my way. When I thought a couple of things.

Like, what does that phrase "commit a nuisance in the presence of women" mean? Did he drop his kecks? It's a very odd way to describe something. Can't be anything other than a euphemism. 

Another strange turn of phrase is when the rector says: "I have been shot at by his gun". Why avoid saying who pulled the trigger? Unless it was his wife.

Oh, and if the rector played on the pub's darts team, he must have been a regular there.

Yet another thing. Why did the rector usually drink in the Barley Mow? The Queen's Head is only a 7-minute walk from the church (according to Google Maps). While the Barley Mow is 21 minutes away.

I've dug a bit deeper and have found out more about the foul-mouthed, drunken vicar.

Let's Brew - 1942 William Younger No. 1

A few lucky souls were, even in 1942, lucky enough to still be drinking strong Scotch Ale. Though No. 1 was getting progressively weaker.

Kicking off the war at 1084º, it dropped to 1082º and then 1081º in 1940. Where it remained for more than a year. Only in 1942 were there further reductions, in January to 1076º and in February to 1071º. Though it did rise back to 1076º in 1943.

Given how much Younger was playing around with different adjuncts early in 1942, the grist is surprisingly similar to that of the previous year. The individual elements are all the same, the only change being a reduction if the quantity of rice used from 7 to 5 quarters.

The hopping rate has fallen a little, from 4.75 lbs per quarter (336 lbs) of malt to 4.5 lbs. This, combined with the age of the hops – all were from the 1940 harvest – has cut the calculated IBUs from 30 to 24. As usual, all the hops were from Kent.
 

1942 William Younger No. 1
pale malt	11.25 lb	59.21%
crystal malt 120L	1.50 lb	7.89%
grits	2.00 lb	10.53%
flaked rice	3.75 lb	19.74%
lactose	0.50 lb	2.63%
Fuggles 150 min	0.75 oz
Fuggles 60 min	0.75 oz
Fuggles 30 min	0.75 oz
Goldings dry hops	0.25 oz
OG	1071
FG	1022
ABV	6.48
Apparent attenuation	69.01%
IBU	24
SRM	16
Mash at	155º F
Sparge at	160º F
Boil time	150 minutes
pitching temp	59º F
Yeast	WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

 

The Cold Storage of Hops

One of the trickiest aspects of writing historical recipes is how to deal with old hops.

It's rare to find am old recipe using exclusively hops from the most recent season. Brewers had a good reason for using older hops - the size of the crop, and hence the price, varied greatly from year to year. In years when hops were cheap, brewers would buy more hops than they required. This gave them some insurance against years when the crop was poor.

We all know that hops deteriorate with age, so how could ones two, three old, or even more, be of any use? Brewers weren't daft. They realised that by storing their hops cold the deterioration could be significantly slowed down.

"The Cold Storage of Hops
F. Babak, of the United States Department of Agriculture, has made some long-term experiments on the storage of hops which are reported in the Brewers' Digest (Sept., 1943). Six samples of hops, four home grown and two imported were stored for 5.5 years in cold store and ordinary store. The cold store was kept at a temperature of 38° to 40° with about 47% humidity, the ordinary store under fluctuating conditions according to the season. Samples were taken at various periods from three months upwards and examined physically and the resins estimated. The object was to find the rate of deterioration and incidentally as to whether there was any variation in this respect as regards seeded and unseeded hops, some brewers being of opinion that the presence of seeds made a difference.

The author’s results bear out the experience of the merits of cold storage we have found in this country if allowance is made for the difference in the temperature of the “cold stores,” for here the temperature of a cold store is much nearer freezing point. The figures are interesting as showing the drop in alpha-resin and increase in beta-resin during the first 21 months in cold store, an important difference as regards preservative power although the total soft resins has decreased much less. In ordinary store the change over is far more marked in nine months, and in this respect the seeded hops show up much worse than the seedless ones, a difference that is not noticeable in cold store. There was also a difference in the time a cheesy odour developed ; it started in the seeded hops after nine months’ ordinary storage, but with seedless hops not until 15 months had elapsed. In cold store the cheesy odour did not occur until after 27 months."
The Brewing Trade Review, December 1943, pages 358 - 359. 

I was surprised that the beta resins increased during the first 21 months of cold storage. Not heard about that before.It seems a bit odd. Nor that seeded hips deteriorated more quickly than seedless hops. That's quite important, as English hops always had seeds. While continental ones didn't.

It's s shame that the analyses of hops at different ages weren't included in this article. Anybody have the Brewers' Digest for September, 1943?

Still time to get a discount

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The Druid's Rest

 More wartime pubs. But this time not a crime scene. Not even a real pub, as it's play set in a pub. A .light comedy. Though it was notable for one thing.

 A New Comedy by Emlyn Williams
"The Druid's Rest" Centres Around a Small Public House in the Heart of Wales

Emlyn Williams has chosen a small village pub as the setting for his new comedy presented by H. M. Tennent and Emile Littler at St. Martin's Theatre. The time is summer, early in this century. The play centres around the national passion for music and a boy's too-vivid imagination. The play will he seen by our men in the Middle East soon. Mr. Williams is taking out a company and will himself appear as Job Edwards, the Landlord, the part played in London by Roddy Hughes

Kate: "From now till four weeks to-day you're not to open any story-books at all"
Kate Edwards (Gladys Henson), alarmed at the fertile imagination of her son Tommos (Brynmor Thomas) which is getting the family into serious trouble, locks away the boy's books

The Man : “My name is Smith. Have you a room?”
Tommos is greeted by a stranger (Michael Shepley), icho interrupts the boy's reading of the newspaper report of “The Brides in the Bath” case

Smith: "And what shall I have to tell Him I've got on my mind?"
Sarah Jane: "Four naked women"
Encouraged by Tommos, everyone believes their visitor to be the murderer Smith. Sarah Jane Jehovah (Nuna Davey) tries to save his soul 

Job: "Now, now, I don't like to see you upset, Kate fach"
Job Edwards (Roddy Hughes), landlord of The Druid's Rest, has one passion his choir. It leads him into trouble with his wife

Right An old Coronation mug identifies Smith the stranger, as Lord Ffynnon. Beside Kate on the settle is the Tramp (Neil Porter): on the right Zachuriah Policeman (Lyn Evans), and behind, the Edwards' elder son Clan (Richard Burton)
The Tatler - Wednesday 23 February 1944, page 9.

 I'm sure you spitted it. The play was Richard Burton's debut stage performance.I wonder what became of him later?

 I was surprised to discover that the play was performed in London as recently as 2009. sis anyone see it?

Let's Brew Wednesday - 1868 William Younger No. 4 Ale Export

When William Younger first introduced their numbered Ales, they went from No. 1, the strongest, to No. 4. The baby of the bunch didn’t last that long. A decade after this beer was brewed, it had disappeared.

A feature of some Younger beers of this period is the complete absence of local ingredients, other than water and yeast. The malt is simply listed as “foreign”, while the hops are described as “Bohemian” and “Saaz”.

No. 4 is very heavily hopped with good quality, low alpha hops. Something which can have a magical effect. There’s also extremely heavy dry hopping. All those factors taken together imply that this beer might well have been allowed to age for a while before sale. I’d go for 3 to 6 months. Not too long, as it doesn’t really have the gravity to spend years maturing.

1868 William Younger No. 4 Ale Export
pale malt	15.75 lb	100.00%
Saaz 90 min	3.00 oz
Saaz 60 min	3.50 oz
Saaz 20 min	3.00 oz
Saaz dry hops	2.50 oz
OG	1068
FG	1022
ABV	6.09
Apparent attenuation	67.65%
IBU	84
SRM	6
Mash at	154º F
Sparge at	185º F
Boil time	120 minutes
pitching temp	59º F
Yeast	WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

The above is an excerpt from my excellent book on Scottish brewing:

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More Chtistmas gift ideas

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A dodgy tailor

Yet more dodgy dealings in a wartime pub. This time it's fraud rather than theft.

"SUIT ORDERS TAKEN IN EASTNEY PUBLIC HOUSE
MONEY AND COUPONS CHANGE HANDS
Goods Not Delivered 

A STORY of ordered suits which did not materialize was related to the Portsmouth Magistrates to-day, when Samuel Goode (48), a tailor, of 55, Ingleby Road, Ilford, pleaded not guilty to charges of false pretences. 

He was accused of obtaining on November 15, November 22, and December 17, 1943, the sums of £10 and ten coupons, and £10 and £5 respectively from Stanley Sullivan by means of false pretences, and on a day in November, 1943, obtaining £14 from Albert Cass, and on a day in August, 1943, obtaining £5 and 30 coupons from Thomas O’Flynn, also by means of false pretences.

George Sullivan, of 60, Tredegar Road, Southsea, said he met Goode in a public-house at Eastney and accused told him he was working at Airspeeds but in his spare time he represented Goode’s, naval Tailors, of the Hard, Portsea. Accused produced a number of patterns and as a result he ordered a suit, and gave Goode £10 and ten coupons. Subsequently he gave Goode another £10 and £5 as an advance on an overcoat.

Albert Cass, licensee of the Highland public house, Eastney, said he had known Goode for 20 years. He believed he represented the firm of Goode's and ordered a suit for which he gave Goode £14 as an advance.

Thomas O’Flynn, a store clerk at Airspeed, of 30 Andover Road, Southsea, said Goode told him that he represented the firm of tailors at the Hard. Witness gave him £5 and 30 coupons and ordered a suit.

NO CONNEXION WITH THE FIRM
Ernest Goode, of Petersfleld, manager of Goode's, naval tailors, the Hard, Portsea, said accused was his brother, but he had had no connexion with the firm since 1934.

Detective Sergeant Strugnell said that when he charged the accused he replied, “ I have a complete answer to that.

Accused said he had never represented himself as having any connexion with the firm of Goode’s.

He was himself a practica1 tailor, and during the last 18 months he had supplied several people with suits. He had intended to supply the suits for which he had taken money, but was unable to do so as he had been ill since September. He Intended to pay back all the money he had taken.

Mr. A. Ainscough, for defence. said all the evidence was “public housy,” and rather unsatisfactory.

The Magistrates found the case proved, but ordered a week's adjournment to see what settlement, if any, could be arranged between the defendant and complainants, before passing sentence."
Portsmouth Evening News - Monday 24 January 1944, page 4. 

Was Goode intending to commit a fraud? Or did he just promise more than he could deliver? It's hard to say. But it seems a bit odd that he would try to con someone he had known for 20 years. Goode's brother does sound like he didn't want to have any connection with his brother. I wonder why he had left the family firm in 1934?

The sums involved are quite substantial for the time. £10 would get you 200 pints of Mild in 1944. Though the coupons - clothing ration coupons - could well have been worth as much, or even more. Clothing was strictly rationed during the war.

The magistrates were pretty lenient, giving Goode the chance to pay the duped punters back before passing sentence.

 

Yule Logs!!!!!!

Thanks to unemployment, I've had time this year to produce my traditional Christmas book of brewing logs. Unlike 2019, when to be perfectly honest, I couldn't be arsed.

 The same format as always: no words, just photos of brewing records. Just like every other year, I don't expect to sell fuck all copies. But, you know, I still like the put this nonsense out there.



Feel free to prove me wrong by buying a copy:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/ronald-pattinson/yule-logs/paperback/product-23425089.html

If you order quickly (by November 26 at 11:59 PM UTC) - either this or any of my other wonderful Lulu print books - you'll get 10% off with this code:

FRIENDS10

Disturbance in Public-House

Another crime story. But this time just a bunch of over-refreshed sailors getting a bit naughty.

"DISTURBANCE IN PUBLIC-HOUSE
Kirkcaldy Court Sequel
Evidence was led Kirkcaldy Police Court on Thursday in the case in which six navymen were charged with having 1) on 6/5/44, within a public-house shouted and bawled, cursed and swore, used lilthy language, and conducted themselves in a drunken and disorderly manner; and (2) at the same lime, o, the same date and in the same public-house, wilfully and maliciously broke a glass panel, valued at 10/-,

The first witness for the prosecution, George Smith Anderson, publican, Townsend Place, Kirkcaldy, stated that he carried on business at Rose street. On the night in question the accused entered the public bar and asked for drinks. He refused them, however, as he thought that they had had too much already. One of the accused then banged tray down on the counter and demanded six beers. He asked them leave the premises, but they replied by asking for more drinks. They then began to curse and swear and use filthy language, remarking that they were fighting for him. They then left, but returned several minutes later to the lounge and tried to force their way behind the bar. They were again refused drinks and told to leave. They went out, but as they left the door leading into Rose Street, he heard the sound of breaking glass. He went to see what had happened and found that the glass panel in the door had been smashed. There had been no one else entering or leaving premises at that time. He looked outside and saw the accused running up Rose Street, towards the High Street. He phoned for the police, and when, the constable arrived and was given a description of the accused, said that he had seen several lads on the High Street, bearing that description. The accused were later arrested, and he went to the police station later that night to identify them.

George Wilson, barman. 51 Market Street, Kirkcaldy, who was behind the bar when the accused the public-house, said that he did not think they were drunk. They were in rather a rowdy mood. They asked to be supplied with drinks, but they were trfused and began to curse and swear. They went out, but came back again and went into the lounge, but were again told they would not be served. They again went out and as they were leaving he heard the sound of breaking glass and found that the glass panel of the door bad been smashed.

James Gordon Barclay, King Street, Kirkcaldy, and David Campbell, 29 Simpson Street, Kirkcaldy who were present at the time corroborated the previous witnesses’ statements as to the condition of the accused. 

Constable Walker, who was on the High Street the night in question, said that he was informed of a complaint against some young lads for a breach the peace om Anderson’s premises. He obtained a description of them and later found them on the High Street and took them to the police station, where they were later identified by Anderson and Wilson.

In reply to Mr David Usher, Burgh Prosecutor, Constable Walker said that when saw the accused on the High Street, they were under the influence of drink and very noisy. 

Three of the accused entered the witness-box, but while they admitted being drunk, then denied used filthy language. The glass panel had been broken in a mistake. 

A naval officer, who appeared on behalf of the accused, said that this was their first offence, and although they were a bit energetic, he knew them to be very well behaved. He hoped that the fact that they likely to be called away at any moment would be taken into consideration.

Mr Usher corroborated the officer's statement to the extent that this was their first offence, and added that he thought they had been Just a little too boisterous during their time off. 

In finding the accused guilty as charged, Bailie Fleming said that he had taken into account what had been said in their favour, and imposed a modified fine of 5/- on each.
Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian - Saturday 13 May, page 2.

A 5'- fine was basically a slap on the wrist. About the same as the price of 5 pints on Mild in 1944.

Love the description of the sailors as being "a bit energetic". It seems like the court went easy on them because they were likely to be sent into action at any moment. I can imagine how stressful that must have been.

Boys in Public House

A quick follow-up to today's earlier post about underage girls drinking. Where I wondered if boys would have been treated the same way. The answer is, yes. At least in this case:

"Two sixteen-year-old lads were each fined 10s at Dundee Juvenile Police Court to-day, when they admitted consuming in a public house 2 pints of beer and two quarter gills of whisky. "
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Saturday 15 January 1944, page 2.

The boys were both younger and drank considerably more than the girls. They were fined, but not put on probation. Mmm.

I'll see if I can find more cases of underage drinking in the archives.

Girls in Public House

This is such a weird case. And I can't imagine that it would have been treated in the same way in my youth. Ir today, for that matter.

To put this into context, according to The Pub and the People, there was almost no underage drinking pre-war.

"Girls in Public House
NO SHANDY, SO DRANK MILD
TWO 17-years-old girls, Dorothy Elizabeth White, milk bar attendant, 2, James Street, Rugby, and Sybil Georgina Humphreys, coil winder, 14, Maple Grove, Rugby, were summoned at Rugby on Wednesday, before Alderman C. W. Browning, M.B.E. (in the chair), and Mrs. E. D. Miller, O.B.E., for purchasing liquor for consumption on licensed premises whilst being under age 18. 

Both pleaded guilty. 

P.S. Sutton said he went to the public bar of the Saracen's Head, and saw the two defendants, together with another girl, at a table near the door. Each girl had a partly-filled half-pint glass of mild beer in front of her. He questioned defendants, who said their were between 17 and 18. He told them they were committing an offence and asked for an explanation, and Humphreys said "I thought it would all right have a shandy, but after I had had drink Dorothy said it was beer and not shandy." White said she thought it would be all right to have a shandy, and she bought the drinks, but there was no lemonade so they had beer. Witness ascertained that the drinks were served by the wife of the licensee, who thought the girls were over 18. He also ascertained that each girl paid for her own drink, and White took the money to the counter. 

Superintendent Wood said nothing was known against either of the girls. 

The mother of Humphreys said she would like a little supervision for her daughter, who was easily led. The girl’s morals were all right, but she thought she could come on at what hour she chose at night. 

The Chairman and the Bench considered this type of case very serious. Defendants were placed on probation for 6 months, and were ordered to pay the costs of 4/- each. 

DIDN’T KNOW DIFFERENCE
Another girl, aged 15 3/4 years, pleaded guilty to a similar offence at the same time and place and was placed on probation for 6 months, and ordered to pay the costs of 4/-.

P.C. Sutton said the girl said in explanation "I understood it would be all right yo go in and have a shandy. I don't know the difference between shandy and beer." 

Superintendent Wood said nothing was known against the girl, but the police regarded these offences as serious.

The girl told the Bench she was sorry. It was about the second occasion on which she had been in a public house.

The girl's father said he was astonished to hear about the case. His daughter had not been brought up that way, and he did think her brothers and sisters in the Forces either smoked or drank. 

The Chairman said the Bench took a rather serious view of the case.
Rugby Advertiser - Friday 28 January 1944, page 5.

The older girls were just a few months under age,  but were put on probation. For drinking a half of Mild. It seems way over the top. Would it have been considered so serious had they been boys? I think not. 

The statement "nothing was known against either of the girls" is revealing and is why I think the police found it a serious matter. The underlying concern appears to me that the girls were prostitutes. 

It's interesting that the licensee wasn't prosecuted. That's what would happen today and the girls would be just told off.

On top of it all, a WW II Mild could well have been under 3% ABV. Hardly any stronger than shandy. A half was wasn't going to get you anything like pissed.

Let's brew - 1942 William Younger XXP

The first half of 1842 was a crazy time at William Younger. Multiple changes were made to the ingredients, gravity and process of their beers. Not just from month to month, but sometimes from week to week.

This beer exemplifies a specific phase in the evolution of Younger’s recipes. When they were playing around with multiple different adjuncts. Grits were on their way out, but were still present in some beers. There was still some rice kicking around, though flaked barley was becoming more prevalent.

Barley also came in another couple of forms: ground and chit. The former is, I assume, simply raw barley ground up. Which must be the simplest way to use unmalted barley, requiring less energy and manpower than flakes.

The gravity is 9º on pre-war. Leaving it pretty damn watery, at only a little over 3% ABV. The boiling times for the two worts have also been reduced from 105 and 120 minutes, to 75 and 105 minutes.

At least the Kent employed hops were pretty fresh, all coming from the most recent, 1941, harvest. It’s just that there were bugger all of them, leaving XXP with a puny 10 (calculated) IBUs.

This being a draught beer, it was most likely coloured up to a variety if shades at racking time. Though a little may have escaped with the colour as brewed.

1942 William Younger XXP
pale malt	7.00 lb	87.50%
ground barley	1.00 lb	12.50%
Fuggles 75 min	0.50 oz
Fuggles 30 min	0.25 oz
OG	1033
FG	1008
ABV	3.31
Apparent attenuation	75.76%
IBU	10
SRM	3.5
Mash at	153º F
Sparge at	160º F
Boil time	75 minutes
pitching temp	61º F
Yeast	WLP028 Edinburgh Ale

 

AA for the stranded time traveller

Emergency recovery service for stranded time travellers - a sort of insurance.

Raw material costs in WW II

There was a big increase in the price of both malt and hops, unsurprisingly, over the course of the war. If Barclay Perkins is typical, this had the effect of raising the percentage of the cost of raw materials relative to the retail price.

In 1939, before the war began, the cost of the malt, adjunct and sugar used in the brewing of XX came to just over 7% of the retail price. Especially considering that the tax paid was slightly over 2d per pint. Or around a third of the 6d public bar price.

The “XX share” column is there because the brew was a parti-gyle with X, Barclay Perkins Ordinary Mild. There was rather more of that brewed than XX, hence the latter’s share is only around a third of the total.

The situation was very different in 1945. The share of raw materials had more than doubled to just over 15%. While the tax paid had leapt to 7.5d per pint – almost two-thirds of the price public bar punters paid.  Ever since, a huge percentage of the retail price of beer in the UK has been made up of tax. Whereas before WW I tax, was only around 10% of the price. Those lucky Edwardians.

21st June 1939 Barclay Perkins XX
malt.hops	qtrs/cwts	price	total	XX share
amber malt	4	51.5	206	79.96
crystal malt	6	46.5	279	108.30
Californian pale malt	19	47	893	346.63
Hama pale malt	10	42.5	425	164.97
mild malt	33	50	1650	640.47
SA malt	17	49	833	323.34
maize	17	36	612	237.55
No. 3 invert sugar	15	42	630	244.54
MK Fuggles 1938	2.36	196	462	179.33
MK Fuggles 1938	2.32	197	457.32	177.51
MK Fuggles 1937	2.38	181	431.49	167.49
total			6878.81	2670.09
OG	1044.8
barrels brewed	260.25
cost per pint	0.43
retail price per pint (d)	6
% raw materials	7.12%
Source:
Barclay Perkins brewing record held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/623.

13th July 1945 Barclay Perkins XX
malt.hops	qtrs/cwts	price	total	XX share
amber malt	4	161	644	315.64
crystal malt	6	146	876	429.35
SA malt	17	142	2414	1183.15
mild malt	33	142	4686	2296.71
PA malt	17	152	2584	1266.47
flaked barley	17	110	1870	916.53
No. 3 invert sugar	15	99	1485	727.83
MK Fuggles 1943	0.61	385	233.75	114.57
MK Fuggles 1943	0.78	385	299.06	146.58
MK Fuggles 1941	0.78	333	258.67	126.78
total			15350.48	7523.61
OG	1035.4
barrels brewed	172.75
cost per pint	1.81
retail price per pint (d)	12
% raw materials	15.12%
Source:
Barclay Perkins Circular Letters held at the London Metropolitan Archives, document number ACC/2305/01/521/1.